Demand for Gorkhaland is illogical

On 30th July 2013, the Congress-led UPA govt opened a Pandora’s Box by giving their stamp of approval on the creation of Telangana, thus validating a struggle for separate state that had been rocking the political scene of Andhra for over half a century. Although the decision brought smiles on the faces of the people of Telangana region, it ignited unprecedented and widespread violence across the country, specially in the Hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal.

Ever since the current government came to power in Bengal, the focus of the administration, led by the Chief Minister, had been to reach out to the people of North Bengal, who had been ignominiously ignored by the Left Front government for three long decades. From roads to basic amenities, education to infrastructure development, the districts of North Bengal had always been subject to a step-motherly attitude from Kolkata.

Post 2011, there was a paradigm shift in the way the WB administration viewed or treated Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar or Dinajpur and Malda. From instituting a separate ministry for North Bengal development to setting up a Secretariat in Siliguri, the government made all the right noises. That their intent was positive was shown by the CM’s visits to the Hills or Dooars almost regularly. The current government has even unfurled a host of developmental agenda for the backward districts that form North Bengal, including setting up of colleges and laying the foundation of an industry hub in Banarhat.

The demand for Gorkhaland is not new. Since the establishment of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, presided over by Subhash Ghishing, in 1987, the separate state movement has always been used as a carrot by the political parties in the Hills to consolidate their votes during elections. Arson and violence follows a 5-year cycle here, where the Gorkha leaders embark on a “final battle” for Gorkhaland, sacrifice the lives of youths, throw public life out of gear, sound the death knell for commerce and tourism, putting the livelihood of thousands at stake, and then go into slumber for next half a decade.

The demand for Gorkhaland would’ve been pertinent even five years back. But now, with the autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha has no legit reason to call for separation. They wanted power; GTA has been showered with that. They wanted development; both the central and state government have earmarked funds worth hundreds of crores for GTA (centre had cleared annual grant of Rs 200 crore while WB govt in its annual budget for the fiscal allowed Rs 150 crores for development of GTA areas). What transpired in this one year that GJM had to take this tough stand? What have they done with the GTA funds? Do they have any developmental achievements to boast of?

That the WB govt is truly empathetic towards Nepali aspirations was demonstrated by the decision of the CM to start schools with Nepali as the medium of instruction. The birthday of great Nepali littérateur Bhanu Bhakt is celebrated pomp that equals Rabindranath or Nazrul. Nepali is also recognized as one of the official languages in conducting the business of the Assembly. Why then is there a need for Nepali speaking brothers and sisters to feel alienated in a Bengali-majority state? The aspirations of development and identity politics that Gorkhas clamour for can be met by GTA with ease. They need to give it time, and send honest, committed leaders to represent the masses in the council, and not self-serving ones.

In the end, I would like to sum up with an extract Shankkar Aiyar’s latest column for New Indian Express:

“The cry for smaller states is less about representation and more about real aspirations. Size may matter. Big could be bold and beautiful too. Bigger states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu do better by leveraging the state’s output and budgets for intervention and investment. So let’s forget formulaic solutions and worry about formats. In a democracy, every vote is sacrosanct. Voters vote for change, not to be presented with fait accompli. And delivery of governance is dictated by devolution, not dialects. India turns 66 this month. Let not petty political cartography obfuscate the real reasons for failure. Let not India get lost in transmogrification.”

This post is too Biased, the question is that how can smaller states like goa and sikkim can have more human development index, literacy, income then the bigger states. The solution for Darjeeling is only “Gorkhaland”, i don’t want to tell the history but if you want, go learn youself within internet, there is much available. Did you know Gorkhas sacrifice for India??? The thing is that not only GTA head but also we the people of Gorkhaland wants to become stronger economically, we are neglected in every where in India???? Why???

Well, this time its different buddy. You are in the dark. Gorkhaland has more specific claims than Telengana i.e. No linguistic, ethnic or cultural commonality with Bengal. Though we have no issues with Telengana, we totally support its creation and congratulate them for the same.

I agree gorkhas r given step motherly treatment everywhere in india. I remember once when i was entering assam by nightsuper bus,only and only gorkhas were ordered to step down from the bus at SRIRAMPUR GATE by ASSAM POLICE and and made to stand in a queue. Night duty officers started checking our documents.Those who were from NEPAL were asked to pay money and one who was from DARJEELING with a valid voter id card was also asked to pay money. I (from assam) was also asked for money which i refused to pay since i had showed them all my valid document which proved that i was a genuine assam citizen.They tried to threatened me and tried to hide my legal documemts. Lastly i had no other option but to call my dad who was serving in ASSAM RIFLES and my uncle who was serving Arunachal administration asEAC. They did not allow me to make a call but allowed me to resume my journey and also returned my documents. I don’t mind being checked but Y only gurkhas R checked and how come people from nepal become valid as soön as they pay money and i, an indian gorkhas from assam, they refused to acknowledge bcz i refused to pay money.THAT WAS A GREAT DESHBHAKTI FROM PEOPLE IN UNIFORM. There r many such incident which i face every day and that’s the reason i support GORKHALAND.WE WANT GORKHALAND, WE WANT OUR IDENTITY!!!